Wrist & hand decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and vocal cord polyps have been reopened, but further development is needed before the merits of these claims can be addressed. The Veteran also has a claim for an increased evaluation for hemorrhoids.

The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnoses of arthritis of the right wrist and thumb are not related to service, including his in-service injury. The criteria for service connection were not met.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left hand disability, including arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome, was not incurred or aggravated during service. The evidence did not show a chronic disease in service or continuous symptoms since service separation.

The Board granted a rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected right elbow/wrist disability with history of carpal tunnel syndrome, effective October 14, 2015. The claim for a higher rating prior to that date was denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a left wrist disability, as new and material evidence has been received. The claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability is granted due to in-service back pain that persisted post-service and was diagnosed with minimal arthritis within one year of separation from active duty. The claim for service connection for a left wrist disability remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected right wrist disability aggravates his currently diagnosed right shoulder arthritis, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for the right shoulder arthritis as secondary to the service-connected right wrist disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete development and need for clarification on the etiology of her syringomyelia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left carpal tunnel syndrome was not caused or aggravated by his active service and therefore denied the claim.

The Board denied all issues on appeal, including service connection for various conditions and a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee disability. The Veteran's left knee was found to have limited flexion but no extension limitation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of his claims, particularly regarding numbness in his right thumb and index finger.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left carpal tunnel syndromes, as well as a separate rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity associated with his lumbar spine disorder, were granted. The Veteran is now rated at 40% for his lumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran's gout was granted service connection, and he received a non-compensable rating for his right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's hemorrhoids were also granted service connection with a non-compensable rating. His left inguinal hernia, impotence, tendonitis of the right wrist, sinusitis with headaches, skin disease, and meralgia paresthetica of the right thigh are all rated as non-compensable. The Veteran's sleep apnea was granted service connection effective September 20, 2007, and he received a 30 percent rating for it.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right wrist alone does not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claimed conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple joint pain (excluding knees and elbows), respiratory disorder, and sleep disturbance, are not service-connected. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a qualifying chronic disability related to his Persian Gulf War service.

The Board found no competent and credible evidence to support the Veteran's claims for left carpal tunnel syndrome and sciatica of the right lower extremity, thus denying service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's ganglion cyst of the left hand is found to be related to service. The VA examiner could not provide a nexus opinion regarding his osteoarthritis of the left wrist, but the Board finds that the requirement for current disability has been met and service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current left wrist arthritis is related to service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's right wrist fracture residuals are manifested by pain on motion, tenderness, and limited dorsiflexion and palmar flexion. The current 10 percent rating is appropriate as the disability does not meet or approximate criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's left wrist arthritis is presumed to be related to service. His lumbar spine disability, diagnosed in service, has persisted since then and is considered presumptive due to his active duty service. The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent for arthritis with a separate 20 percent rating for instability.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and extraschedular evaluation for his right wrist disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating or an extraschedular evaluation.